Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Janker | Members of the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron, 107th Attack Wing, New York Air...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT DRUM, N.Y., (March 29, 2023) — Members of the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron, 107th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard partnered with six Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) from the Brazilian Para-SAR squadron to take part in a close air support exercise and remotely piloted aircraft subject matter expert exchange on Hancock Field and Ft. Drum, New York, March 28-30.
A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 175th Wing, Baltimore, Maryland and a B-52 from the 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale, Louisiana aided the exercise on Ft. Drum by coordinating both live fire and inert air to ground strikes with the 274th and Brazilians.
“The purpose of this exercise was to discuss tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting close air support and to identify areas to improve abilities and conduct operations” said Captain Michael Meegan, a Tactical Air Control Party Officer, assigned to the 274th ASOS.
The ongoing relationship between the 274th and the Brazilians is part of New York's State Partnership Program. The SPP maintains a standing relationship between the 274th ASOS and the Para-SAR squadron and is designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and Brazilian Forces.
Along with having the ability to develop a relationship with Brazilian JTACs, The State Partnership Program is valuable because it allows us to see how Brazil conducts close air support and understand the environment they must operate in, said Captain Meegan.
"This is an exchange," said Major Padriac Meehan, State Partnership Program Coordinator. Meehan explained that both units provide and share information that is extremely valuable to the ever changing expectations of their missions.
"These units have a lot of experience working together," said Meehan; however this is the first time the Brazilian JTACs have come to the U.S. for a close air support exercise with the 274th ASOS. The past two years members of the 274th have traveled to Brazil to take part in exercise Tapio, a recurring Brazilian close air support and combat search and rescue exercise.
Both units plan to continue to work together to improve their operations and joint partnership. Members of the 274th are scheduled to go back to Brazil later this year to participate in exercise Tapio as well as other training opportunities with the Brazilian JTACs.
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2023 07:35 |
| Story ID: | 442841 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Forces Unite, by SSgt Michael Janker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT